Valve diaphragm



July 27, 1954 R MQFARLAND, JR

VALVE DIAPHRAGM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 7, 1951 Fla-.2

' IN VENT OR. 001mm Me FMM/m J9.

July 27, 1954 R. M FARLAND, JR 2,684,829

VALVE DIAPHRAGM Filed March 7, 1951 2 Shets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Razz 4w Me 51mm J4.

BY ZWly/g Patented July 27, 1954 2,684,829

UNITED STATES E TENT OFFICE 2,684,829 VALVE DIAPHRAGM Rolland McFarland, Jr., Crystal Lake, 111., as-

signor to Hills-McCanna Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application March 7, 1951, Serial No. 214,237 15 Claims. (01. 251331) 1 2 This invention relates to diaphragm valves and Figure 1 is a plan view, looking at the upper to diaphragms therefor. The invention is more face of the diaphragm; particularly concerned with a fluted or corru- Figure 2 is a cross-section of the diaphragm gated diaphragm construction suitable for fiexitaken along the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

bis materials such as rubber and synthetic elas- Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along tomers, with the invention and details of design the line 33 of Figure 1;

aimed at producing a diaphragm for a diaphragm Figure 4 is a cross-section of part of the diavalve such that the improved design will elimiphragm taken along the line 44 of Figure 2; nate difiiculties that are now inherent, to a Figure 5 is a partial cross-section of the diagreater or less extent, in conventionally designed is) ph fl m tak n lo the ne 5 of Figure diaphragms utilized for similar purposes in dia- Figure 6 is a vertical cross-section of a valve phragm valves. The invention i more partiouin accordance with my invention in closed posilarly directed to diaphragms for use in weir type tion; and Figure 7 is a perspective view of a valves of the Saunders t as exemplified by metallic reinforcing element used in conjunction Patents Nos. 1,855,991 and 2,054,340, in which with the diaphragm.

the diaphragm is adapted to be depressed against Referring to the drawings the diaphragm india raised-weir, across the fluid pasagevvay through cated gene y y the numeral l s how W t the valve, in order to close the valve. a i cular p riph ry ut i m y be h p d to fi Conventional diaphragms for valves of the any particular Sty e V v F eXample, the above type are made of reinforced rubber, synp riph ry m y be r n r wi h r nd d thetic elastomers or elastisols, which diaphragms corners, or it may be oval. The diaphr m i are flexible and capable of being bent, stretched, formed W t a thick fishtailed edge DOItiOII 7v or distorted Without immediate injury to the diahavin a r liev d or di h d edge 8 Th edge phragm. These diaphragms are made with a p r i n 6, l j in a owl h p ecti n 9, th smooth, continuous deflecting bowl, adapted to ck s o e diaphragm at thelihe 0f J'Oihture be deflected downwardly, or upwardly, as the being omew less the-I1 t Of t e D valve is opened or closed. Such materials as t The p y Side Of the bowl Section is have been previously used for making th se diarelieved, fluted or corrugated to form a series of phragms have inherent def cts i th mat rial, alternate concentric crests Hi and flutes or holsuch as the property of cold flow or continuous l ws H. Th r h p d e n h l w merge deformation under load, which properties coninto a Wide t ip 2 u e running t o tinuously tend to Work against proper diaphragm the middle of the diaphragm W ic is adapted function, shorten diaphragm life, and eventually to overlie the weir of the valve in connection with destroy the proper physical and mechanical ac- W ich th diap i o be 1 The upp tion of the diaphragm. or dry side of strip I2 is smooth except for a An object of this invention is to provide an series of rows of oval-shaped re s p improved' diaphragm for use in connection with sions t lying betwe n t e ppo d of t e diaphragm type valves. arc-shaped corrugations. As, shown in the draw Another object of the invention is to preing the strip it has 6 rows of recesses it? With 3 vide a valve diaphragm construction which will 40 recesses in each row. However, by making the permit more proper and effectiv use of fle ible recesses larger or smaller the number of rows materials such as rubber, synthetic elastomers of recesses and the number of recesses in each and highly plasticized resin compositions (elas r w c n e ec d r i r pe i ytisols). The diaphragm is formed of a plurality of A further object of the invention is to prolayers of rubber, synthetic elastomer or plastivide an improved diaphragm capable of being cized resin, with alternate layers of woven fabric made of theaforesaid materials and of being used such as cotton duck therebetvveen for reinforcein services to which these materials are best suitment- The bottom or wet side M of the diaed from the standpoint of resistance to chemical phragm i n rru t d ut has a smooth con-- attack and to the temperature conditions entoured surface over-all.

countered. Two opposite upright sections is are formed Still another object of the invention is to prointegrally with the upper layer of the diaphragm, vide, an improved diaphragm valve. one on each side of strip P2, in the center of the Other objects of the invention will become evidiaphragm. The outer faces of sections I5 are dent from the following description. and accomarcuate, conforming to the shape of the corrupanying; drawing of which gations, but the opposing inner faces are fiat.

In building the diaphragm a ply of woven fabric is such as cotton duck ll is cemented to a bottom smooth calendered layer of rubber or other elastomer i7 having a thickness of about to 3 inch for a diaphragm of the size illustrated (two inch valve) A thin layer of calendered rubber is cemented to the cotton duck ply i'i. A strip of cotton duck I3 is cemented to the thin layer of calendered rubber and positioned to lie directly over the valve weir when assembled in a finished valve. An annular ply !9 of cotton duck is also cemented to the upper surface of the thin calendered layer of rubber at the edge position of the diaphragm. A second thin layer of calendered rubber is cemented above ply l9 and strip 20. A second annular ply 2i cotton duck is cemented to the upper surface of the second thin rubber layer. Another layer of rubber stock corresponding substantially to the size of the finished diaphragm and having a thickness of about to inch is cemented as an upper layer to the portion of the built-up diaphragm heretofore described.

A die-cut annular ring of rubber stock having a thickness of about to inch is cemented to the top edge portion of the diaphragm assembly in order to provide the thickened edge portion. Two die-cut portions of rubber stock conforming in general to the cross-sectional shape of the upright portion l5 and having a thickness of about to inch are cemented to the upper surface of the diaphragm assembly at the positions to be occupied by the uprights 55. The uprights 65 are produced by piling two or more blocks of rubber stock on the aforementioned die-cut portions, the topmost block having a die-cut hole 22 therethrough. One or more plies 23 of unbalanced duck are cemented onto the assembled blocks so that the tie cords of the duck run in the same direction as the holes 22 and the tensile cords run around the outside walls of the blocks which are parallel to the hole walls. The duck is then capped with a layer of thick rubber stock which is cemented to the duck.

The entire diaphragm assembly is placed in a mold and cured under suitable time-temperature-pressure conditions to produce a vulcanized diaphragm of the shape shown and described.

If desired for additional strength a metallic reinforcing member 24 punched and shaped to fit over the upright l5 with a hole 25 in alignment with hole 22 may be bonded to the top and inner face of each upright i5. The bottom 26 of member 24 stops some distance above the upper surface of strip portion E2 in order to avoid the possibility of the member 24 cutting the upper surface of the diaphragm when in compression.

The diaphragm is preferably molded in the closed position for the purpose of utilizing the molded or relaxed position of the diaphragm during the time of valve closure, and then only at, and during, the time of valve opening is the diaphragm under stress or deformed from its normally molded position. Further, the moldedclosed position facilitates ease of assembling the diaphragm in the finished valve, and assures proper seating and pressure tightness which, as has been determined from experience, is more difficultly obtained and maintained where the diaphragm is molded in the reverse or open position.

As shown in Figure 6 the diaphragm l is adapted to be clamped between the machined opposing flanges 39 and 3! of bonnet and body members 32 and 33, respectively. The flanges 30 and 3! are inclined and rounded to receive the inclined edge portion 6, 'l of the diaphragm and form a positive lock on the edge portion of the diaphragm when the mating flanges are pulled together by means of bolts or other clamping means. The perpendicular compressive force of these flanges and their resultant component forces then cause the flexible material to be compressed and deformed away from the direction of compressive load, with the rubber or synthetic material flowing or deforming until the bolting stress or compressive stress has finally arrived at its maximum value. This phenomena is wellknown in the technology of rubber and similar material and is a basic function of the rheology of such materials.

However, the edge portion 6, I is confined between these fianges as illustrated in Figure 6, and the relieved area 8 then tends to form a base or reservoir in which this compressive load can be expended to some degree so that the rubber will flow into this area, and yet a positive lock will be maintained between the flanges of the valve components without excessive deformation or flow taking place inwardly towards the first semi-circular flute, or corrugation ll.

However, some plastic flow will take place around the circumference of the diaphragm with this flow acting in a linear displacement towards the geometrical center of the diaphragm. The initial flue H is of substantially less thickness than the area lying on either side thereof, so that the residual plastic flow or cold flow of the stock that has initially taken place between the body and bonnet flanges, then permits the flow of this residual stock into the area of this flute. Such flow does deform the contour of the initial flute, and successively deforms the remainder of the flutes H until the last flute is reached adjacent the upright columns i5. In this way, the successive flutes are designed to take the residual flow of stock, or volume of material compressed, away from the periphery of the diaphragm, and also compressed away from the center bar or portion of the diaphragm when the diaphragm is closed upon the weir.

A compressor bar 33 fits in the slot between the upright sections I5. The length of the bar 33 is substantially the same as that of strip :2 and the contour of the lower surface 34 of the bar conforms to the contour of the surface of Weir 35 in order to hold the diaphragm in leak-proof relationship with the weir when in closed position. The center of bar 33 lying between uprights i5 is substantially flat and extends above the upper surface of uprights i5. Bar 33 has a bore 36 extending from the middle top thereof toward the bottom in order to loosely accommodate the lower end 3'! of stem 38. The lower end of stem 38 and the bar 33 have horizontal passageways therethrough in alignment with holes 22 in the upright sections l5. The diaphragm, depressor bar and stem are held together in assembled relation by pin 39 which slides easily in holes 22 but fits tightly in the stem passageway. The valve is equipped with a conventional rotatable sleeve 30 into which stem 38 is threaded, and handwheel ll to operate the diaphragm from closed to open positions. The dotted lines in Figure 6 show the position of the diaphragm in fully open position. The bonnet 32 has recesses or guideways 42 on the inner surface in which the opposite ends of compressor bar 33 are adapted to slide.

The diaphragm is formed with two markers 43 (Figure 1) recessed molded on the wetface of the diaphragm shall be properly placed in the valve with thestrip i2 lying directly over weir 35.

relieve cold flow and plastic deformation caused by the compression action of the compressor bar against the valve weir.

When the valve diaphragm is closed on the and the valve weir, so that this diaphragm sec tion is then trapped and compressed between these two contoured metal surfaces as illustrated in Figure 6. The compression of this flexible material then requires that some means be provided as a take-up to absorb this rubber stock under plastic flow and in turn relieve the con destruction of the diaphragm if provision is not made for their satisfactory distribution and relief of plastic flow and stress in critical areas. Here of stress relief where plastic flow can enter and permit even distribution and relaxation of stress to some extent without disrupting the interior of the diaphragmand the continuation of selfdestructive forces. Both the flutes H lying adjacent to uprights l5 and the recesses I3 act as reservoirs in which the plastic and flexible stock will flow under compression and away from the compressed area beneath the bar compressor and valve weir. The recesses B3 are considerably reduced in size by means of absorption of the plastic iiow as the volume of rubber stock is compressed into this available space. Thus, whether the play of compressive forces and resulting plastic how is from the periphery of the diaphragm to the center or, vice Versa, the properly proportioned and spaced relieved areas will serve their These corrugations and relief sections also play an additional part when the diaphragm is opened, closed, or at partial stroke, in order to permit throttling flow of fluid through the valve. Figures 2 and 3 show the molded, closed position of the diaphragm. This position is reversed during opening, or the entire bowl portion of the diaphragm is drawn upward by the aforementioned bar compressor and pin assembly attached through holes 22 of columns l5. As this heavy section moves upward, we must then allow for the problem of passing the stock through a planer area along center line 44 which is smaller than the area normally occupied by the bowl portion of the diaphragm. In other words, we must take a hemispherical shaped section, and distort it and bend it sufliciently to force it through a circular area and plane along the neutral axis 44. When this action takes place the semicircular shaped reliefs or flutes ll again come into play to permit easier deforn'iationv of the rubber material with plastic flow taking place from the. geometric center outwardly as the diaphragm isdrawn up, and with this plastic flow being successively. absorbed by these iiutes. In turn, recesses 13 are relieved from compression underneaththe coinpressor surface as the valve is being opened and the compressor rises upwardly, so that plastic flow and compression are reduced in recesses. However, as the diaphragm moves upward, these Because of the necessity of reinforcing the diaphragm with fabric plies it is-not practicable to form the diaphragm with both upper and lower surfaces fluted. However, Ihave found that fluting or corrugating only the upper surface effectiveiy relieves the stresses set up in the diaphragm due to compressive forces.

It will be seen therefore that by the unique construction of this diaphragm that I am able to secure proper function and improved service life from diaphragms of this nature when molded of rubber, synthetic elastomers, and other What is claimed:

1. A diaphragm having a fishtailed peripheral portion surrounding a bowl-shaped portion, one surface of said bowl-shaped portion being formed with substantially concentric corrugations except for a strip portion extending through the center of the diaphragm to the peripheral portion, and means adjacent the center of said diaphragm to enable said diaphragm to be fastened to a stem.

2. A diaphragm in accordance with claim 1 in which the upper surface of the bowl-shaped portion is corrugated and the lower surface of said diaphragm is substantially smooth.

3. A diaphragm in accordance with claim 1 in which the upper surface of said strip portion is formed with a series of spaced recessed areas lying between said corrugations.

4. A valve diaphragm comprising a fishtailed peripheral portion surrounding a bowl-shaped portion, the upper surface of said bowl-shaped portion being formed with a plurality of concentric flutes separated by a strip portion having a substantially smooth lower surface running through the center of the diaphragm and ex" tending to said edge portion, spaced uprighportions on either side of said strip portion at the center of said diaphragm, said upright por tions having horizontal aligned holes therethrough.

5. A valve diaphragm in accordance with claim 4 in which the lower surface thereof is substantially smooth.

6. A valve diaphragm in accordance with claim 4 in which the lower surface is substantially rality of spaced depressions lying between said flutes.

7. A flexible, fabric-reinforced elastomer diaphragm having a peripheral portion surrounding a bowl-shaped portion, one surface of said bowl-shaped portion being formed with substantially concentric corrugations except for a strip portion extending through the center of the diaphragm to said peripheral portion, means adjacent the center of said diaphragm and on the same surface as said corrugations to enable said diaphragm to be fastened to a stem, the opposite surface of said diaphragm being substantially smooth.

8. A flexible, fabric-reinforced elastomer diaphragm having a thickened edge portion and a bowl-shaped center portion, one surface of which is substantially smooth and the opposite surface of which is formed with concentric undulations, said undulations being interrupted by a strip portion extending through the center of said diaphragm from opposite points on the edge of said bowl-shaped portion and means on said opposite face adjacent the center thereof to enable said diaphragm to be fastened to a stem.

9. A flexible fabric-reinforced elastomer diaphragm having a thick flshtailed peripheral portion with a dished edge surrounding a bowlshaped portion, the area of juncture between said peripheral portion and said bowl-shaped portion being thinner than said peripheral por tion and the bowl-shaped portion immediately adjacent thereto.

19. A valve diaphragm in accordance with claim 4 in which metallic reinforcing elements are bonded to the surface of said uprights, said elements extending over the top of said upright and along at least one surface through which i said holes pass and having holes aligned with the holes in said uprights.

11. A valve diaphragm of reinforced elastorner having at least one centrally disposed upright portion molded integrally as part of the diaphragm, a metallic reinforcing element bonded to the surface of said portion, said element extending over the top of said portion and along an upstanding surface thereof, said portion having a transverse hole therethrough in alignment with a hole in said element.

12. A valve diaphragm in accordance with claim 8 in which the means to enable the diaphragm to be fastened to a stem comprises opposing upright portions on either side of said strip portion, located at the center of the diaphragm and bonded by the innermost undulations and horizontal aligned holes in said upright portions.

13. A diaphragm valve comprising a body and a bonnet with a diaphragm therebetween, a pair of thick, reinforced spaced upright portions at the center of said diaphragm formed integrally therewith and forming a slot therebetween, a weir in said body beneath said diaphragm, a rigid depressor bar aligned with said weir and fitting in said slot between said upright portions, the

length of said bar being substantially equal to the distance across the center of the unclamped portion of the diaphragm and the bottom of which conforms to the contour of the upper surface of said weir, a bore extending into said bar from the top thereof, a stem extending into said bore, transverse holes in said upright portions, bar and stem aligned with each other, a rigid pin extending through said holes to hold said stem, bar and diaphragm together and means to operate said stem.

14. A diaphragm valve in accordance with claim 13 in which the peripheral portion of the diaphragm is fishtailed and clamped between opposing inclined body and bonnet flanges, the diaphragm has a substantially smooth surfaced strip immediately overlying the valve weir, and the upper face of the portion of the diaphragm between the peripheral portions and strip is fluted in the form of concentric arcs to give a series of alternate thick and thin areas.

15.1n combination with a valve having an upstanding weir across the passageway thereof, a compressor bar above said weir, and means for moving said bar to and from said weir, a dia phragm between said weir and said bar, the edge portion of said diaphragm being securely held between the closing faces of said valve, said diaphragm having a bowl-shaped portion lying inside said edge portion, said bowl-shaped portion having its outer side formed with a series of concentric alternate crests and hollows interrupted by a strip extending through the can ter of the diaphragm to its edge portion with small hollows underlying the bar compressor location area, the hollows and crests being below the plane of the clamped edge when the valve is in the closed position, said diaphragm being formed with reinforced, spaced twin columns adjacent the center to form a slot in which said bar compressor lies and to which column the bar is fastened, the entire surface of the diaphragm on the liquid side being smooth and continuous throughout the diaphragm bowl.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

